Report Nareender Kumar/ANI
MIRPURKHAS —A ceremony for the distribution of free Pink Electric Scooters among women was held in Mirpurkhas on Saturday, with Sindh Senior Minister for Information, Transport and Mass Transit Sharjeel Inam Memon as the chief guest. The initiative is aimed at promoting women’s mobility, independence and access to education and employment.
“Today is a very important and joyful day,” Sharjeel Inam Memon said, describing the initiative as a reflection of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto’s vision of empowering women.
He said Benazir Bhutto had introduced several initiatives for women, including the Lady Health Worker Programme and First Women Bank. He added that women in Sindh were now more empowered and independent than in the past.
Memon said that after Benazir Bhutto’s martyrdom, President Asif Ali Zardari launched the Benazir Income Support Programme for deserving women. He said the programme also helped many women obtain Computerised National Identity Cards, contributing to an increase in the number of registered voters.
He noted that women leaders including Faryal Talpur, Azra Pechuho, Nafisa Shah and Shazia Marri were serving in assemblies on general seats, describing this as evidence of women’s increasing participation in public life.
The minister said Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and President Asif Ali Zardari had issued special directives for further empowering women.
“Pink Taxis for women will also be launched soon,” he said, adding that the initiative, along with Pink Electric Scooters, represented measures aimed at improving women’s mobility and economic participation.
Memon said Hari Cards were being issued to farmers and Labour Cards to workers as part of broader government initiatives.
He claimed that Sindh was making significant progress in sectors including health and education, as well as in the development of Thar coal.
“We do not know who the women coming here today are. We are distributing Pink Scooters without discrimination,” Memon said, stressing that the scheme was being implemented on a non-discriminatory basis.
He said families were increasingly allowing their daughters and female relatives to drive, while the number of women obtaining driving licences had also increased significantly.
Memon said the distribution of Pink Electric Scooters would continue and would not be discontinued. He said the government aimed to provide EV scooters to 50,000 women who obtain driving licences.
He warned that action would be taken if men were found using scooters provided under the women-specific scheme.
The minister said Sindh was the only province in Pakistan providing free EV scooters to women under the initiative. Women are being provided training, and those who successfully pass the required test are being provided EV scooters.
He said the programme would be expanded to women in every district of Sindh.
“Our women are playing their full role in every sphere of life,” Memon said, adding that the Pakistan Peoples Party would continue initiatives aimed at women’s empowerment.
Referring to the PPP’s contribution to Pakistan, Memon said the party had played a historic role in strengthening the country’s institutions and defence capabilities. He said the Constitution, missile technology and the nuclear programme were among major achievements associated with the PPP.
He further said the PPP had contributed to making Pakistan’s defence capabilities stronger, while Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s position on India had received appreciation internationally, according to Memon.
